The Story Between the Water Bottle Industry and the Red Dot Award? Part Four

There are stories in every cup, and warmth in every life. Hello everyone, welcome to "Dong Dong's Cup Talk" I've noticed that in recent years, more and more products in the water bottle industry have been winning the Red Dot Award. I wonder if those of you in other industries have made similar observations? As for what the Red Dot Award is, I won’t go into too much detail here—you can find plenty of information about it online. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10535.htmlToday, I’d like to discuss the relationship between the water bottle industry and the Red Dot Award. What exactly is there to talk about? Given my limited expertise, I’ve specially invited Ms. Lin Jing to share her insights. She has her own factory, her own design team, and years of experience building brands. As a brand owner, she has been involved with the Red Dot Award for many years. Now, I’ll hand it over to Ms. Lin.

Hello everyone, I’m Lin Jing. Thank you, Dong Dong, for inviting me back. As a brand owner who has been in the water bottle industry for many years, I work closely with designers and production processes every day, while also keeping a close eye on the market and consumers. In recent years, the "Red Dot Award" has become increasingly prominent in our industry, with many peers highlighting it as a key selling point for their products. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10535.htmlToday, I’d like to objectively discuss, from an insider’s perspective, what the Red Dot Award truly means for the water bottle industry. On behalf of Dong Dong, I should mention that due to the extensive content, this sharing will be divided into multiple independent posts. Haha.

Four. Behind the Trend: Marketing Hype or Genuine Value?

My perspective is: it’s a bit of both, but the core should be "genuine value," with the award serving as an "amplifier."

The increasing number of Red Dot Award-winning products in the water bottle industry reflects, first and foremost, intensified competition and brands’ growing emphasis on design. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10535.htmlEveryone has realized that competing solely on low prices and basic functions is no longer enough—innovation in design is essential to stand out.

Calling it a "hype" is because some brands treat winning the award as the ultimate goal, prioritizing the application process over market performance. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10535.htmlAs a result, award-winning products may receive critical acclaim but fail to sell well. However, if a product wins the Red Dot Award and also succeeds in the market, it is, in most cases, "genuinely valuable." This is because the judging criteria for the Red Dot Award—such as innovative expression, practical functionality, and design quality—overlap significantly with what constitutes a great user experience.

According to official Red Dot Award data, over 10,000 entries from around the world participate each year, and the winning rate is not 100%. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10535.htmlThe competition for the highest honor, the "Best of the Best" award, is particularly fierce. Being able to stand out in such a competitive field is, in itself, proof of the product’s excellence among its peers.